Page 36 of Resisting Temptation

We spend the next hour speeding around town ticking items off the list. She’s lit up and happier than I have seen her in so long. I can tell she’s starting to enjoy herself, even if she is stuck with me. It looks like we might even have the lead at this point. The only other team who is even close to us is Emerson and Hamilton.

The other couples are all close by, and every so often I look out for Emerson. She keeps her distance from Hamilton, but the tension between the two of them is strange. It makes me nervous. Part of me wonders if it’s time we tell the girls all we know about their family. But Parker hasn’t found the hard evidence we need. So, at this point, it’s all my father’s word and some evidence from years ago that we have to go off. We can’t risk it getting out before we have uncovered the full truth.

Paisley comes running back to me with her hands full. “I got the last one, five seashells.” She squeals with excitement, showing me the loot in her hands. Imove in close with her and take a selfie, the beach as the perfect backdrop behind us. A breeze kicks up, and the waft of her sweet shampoo hits my nostrils, taking me back years. For a second, it’s like she’s transported back in time with me. She stares up at me, her eyes wide as she licks along her lips.

My hand moves into her hair, and I pull her closer to me. “Paisley.”

She blinks back at me, waiting for me to say something. Then she drops her line of sight and takes a step back. “I’ve answered the questions as we were going. We’re all done. I’ll run this in and we might just win,” she says excitedly as she takes off for the marquee that’s been set up on the beach. I try to grab for her hand, not giving two shits if we win or not. I just had her in my arms, she was so close. And I know she feels this as well, the undeniable pull we have toward each other.

As she takes off up the beach, I notice Hamilton make a run for the marquee as well. They’re neck and neck. He mutters something to her, and she sprints forward to hand her phone over to the judge first.

Emerson and I walk toward the marquee together, hearing Paisley’s cheers of excitement. “Looks like your team won. Maybe you twocanget along after all. Well played, Noah.” She grins cheekily.

“All this proves is we’re both fiercely competitive. Tell me, Em, how did you really end up partnered up with Hamilton?”

“This is none of your business, Noah.” She blushes a deep shade of crimson, her guilty eyes avoiding mine.

“I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”

“You’re as bad as my brother,” she huffs, unimpressed.

“Maybe you should trust him on this one. Hamilton’s not a good guy, Em.”

“I know,” she says sadly, and I wonder what he’s done to her.

Anger surges through me. “What did he fucking do?”

Her hand comes to my arm. “No, Noah. I can handle this,” she says, her voice filled with more authority than it normally is.

“If you’re sure.”

“I am. Besides, you have your own stuff to deal with. Go get your girl.”

Paisley comes running toward us way too excited. “We won!” She beams, throwing her arms around me. I pick her up and twirl her around before lowering her back down to the sand.

“I knew we would.” I smirk back at her, brushing a stray curl behind her ear, seeing for the first time how badly she needed this. She’s like a little kid at Christmas, and I’m glad for once I was the one able to put that grin on her pretty face. I lower my head toward hers, and she doesn’t push me away. But right as my lips brush hers, I feel her hand on my chest.

“Noah, we can’t.”

I pull away from her, disappointment filling me. She wants this as well. She’s just running scared. And I feel like an asshole all over again, knowing how much I hurt her last time.

Some of the other teams start bringing in their entries, and the beach becomes crowded.

I lower my head toward hers. “What did Hamilton say to you?”

“You needed the win more than him, because it would be the only one you’re going to get.”

“He’s just saying that because he’s a sore loser,” Margo says, joining us from out of nowhere. She leans in and kisses my cheek. “Congratulations. Now you can add the Founders’ Day trophy to your long list of accomplishments.”

I chuckle lightheartedly. “This one was all Paisley. The trophy’s hers.”

Margo turns and looks her over as if she is noticing her for the first time. “How did the two of you end up working together, anyway? Not really ideal PR for the campaign, Noah,” she chastises me.

I notice Paisley’s not-so-subtle roll of the eyes. She’s not keen on Margo at all. “You might want to keep your candidate in line then, sweetie. Pretty sure he set this one up, because I’m just so irresistible he couldn’t stay away from me.” She smiles extra sweetly toward her, a knowing look coming back to me. I smirk back at her, not giving two shits if she thinks I rigged it. I’m happy for her to know what she means to me. And I would be crazy not to try for some time with her.

“Sounds about right. Noah is all for charity,” Margo snaps back, claws out, and I throw her a look. The last thing we need is a cat fight in the middle of Founders’ Day.

“Margo,” I warn.

---